Date: Oct 07, 2010

Hofstra hosts N.Y. Sectional Meeting of American Physical Society

Two-day conference to address the origin of the universe, solar system and life

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY - Hundreds of physicists from industry, government and academia will converge on Hofstra University Oct. 15 and 16, 2010 for the Fall 2010 New York Sectional Meeting of the American Physical Society.

The meeting, the theme of which is "Origins", will feature speakers from northeastern universities, three Hofstra faculty, and one leading high school teacher discussing the origin of the universe, the solar system and the origin of life.  The meeting will also feature presentations by outstanding undergraduate physics students from New York State.

On Friday, Oct. 15, 2010, the conference dinner will feature a presentation by Marcia Bartusiak, Executive Director of the Graduate Program in Science Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, titled "The Day We Found the Universe: The little-known history of how we came to recognize the modern universe". Professor Bartusiak's talk will be followed by the presentation of undergraduate awards and, weather permitting, an observing session at the Hofstra Observatory.

The American Physical Society (APS) is one of the largest organizations of physicists from industry, government laboratories and academia. The New York Section of APS convenes two symposia each year, in the fall and the spring.

In an effort to encourage high school teachers attend, Hofstra is offering to cover the registration fee ($15) and half the cost of the conference dinner for the first 50 high school teachers who register. For more information about registering, or the conference program and schedule, go to http://nyssaps.org/, or contact Professor Harold Hastings, Hofstra Department of Physics and Astronomy, at 516-463-5582 or APSMeeting@hofstra.edu.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 150 undergraduate and 160 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied health services and honor studies, as well as a School of Law.

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